How long can I maintain small entity status after it’s established?

Once small entity status is established in an application or patent, you can continue to pay fees as a small entity until the issue fee is due or any maintenance fee is due. This is stated in 37 CFR 1.27(g)(1): ‘Once small entity status is established in an application or patent, fees as a small entity may thereafter be paid in that application or patent without regard to a change in status until the issue fee is due or any maintenance fee is due.’

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Topics: MPEP 500 - Receipt and Handling of Mail and Papers, Patent Law, Patent Procedure
Tags: Issue Fees, Maintenance Fees, patent fees, Small Entity Status